If Tim Donaghy's latest allegations are true, Kobe Bryant won his last championship with the help of an NBA conspiracy. And Scot Pollard is still ringless because some guys in suits determined it would be that way.

If Tim Donaghy's latest allegations are true, Kobe Bryant won his last championship with the help of an NBA conspiracy. And Scot Pollard is still ringless because some guys in suits determined it would be that way.

Our summer of Bonds, Vick and Donaghy is also, happily enough, our summer of Beckham. Soccer's Savior gives us something to focus on that doesn't involve performance-enhancing drugs, dogfighting or gambling. It also doesn't involve much of anything most American sports fans care about.

Tim Donaghy started making NBA bets four years ago, and he didn't hesitate to wager on games he worked. Speaking in code during telephone calls, he tipped off high-stakes gamblers with inside information and recommended which teams to bet on. When his picks hit, he was paid $5,000.

The former NBA referee at the center of a federal gambling investigation is expected to surrender to authorities as soon as this week, two federal law enforcement officials said Monday. Tim Donaghy is alleged to have wagered on an undisclosed number of league games, including ones he officiated.

This story about an NBA referee who may have bet on some of his own games comes right out of the best crime writers' box of plots. It also helps explain why Pete Rose is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame.